Chapter 2. Implementing Horizon Connection Server

The VMware Horizon Connection Server is a key component of the VMware Horizon infrastructure. In addition to acting as a connection broker between Horizon clients and desktops or Microsoft Windows RDS Servers, it also hosts the Horizon Administrator console.

This chapter will discuss multiple topics surrounding the design, deployment, configuration, backup, and recovery of a Horizon Connection Server. We will also discuss how to install additional Horizon Connection Servers, which are known as replicas.

In this chapter we will learn:

• An overview of a Horizon Connection Server
• The virtual machine and operating system requirements of a Horizon Connection Server
• The connection limits of a Horizon Connection Server
• How to determine the number of Horizon Connection Servers required
• Infrastructure and vCenter installation prerequisites
• How to install the first Horizon Connection Server in a Pod
• The initial configuration of a Horizon Connection Server
• The configuration of the Instant Clone Engine Domain Administrator account
• How to install additional Horizon Replica Connection Servers in a Pod
• The Horizon Connection Server upgrade process
• How to back up components of the Horizon Connection Server and which components to back up
• How to restore a Horizon Connection Server from backups or in response to a server failure